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The book is by Anthony Burgess was published in 1962 … a whole nine years before Kubrick’s wildly popular film. With the popularity of the movie, many people forgot about the book or never even discovered it.

NOTE: This will have spoilers, but you’re probably already familiar with the film, so anything revealed here shouldn’t come as much of a shock. Plus, reading the actual book in its odd native language with some classical music (Beethoven anyone?) blaring is incomparable to anything that this post may spoil!

I first picked up the book when I was 16—and, I’ll be honest, I stopped reading it. I barely understood the English (it’s essentially in another language), and what I did get was super-morbid.

Yet, there was something strangely alluring about Clockwork. I knew of the controversial film. Heck, I watched the trailer about five times on YouTube in high school. I just couldn’t get the image of Alex’s eyes peeled open during the Ludivico Technique out of my head. That’s what gave me the oomph to give the book another shot. After researching the strange language used in it, of course.

The language is called Nadsat, and it’s an odd mixture of Russian, Cockney, slang, and English, where “eggs” become “eggiwegs,” mom and dad become “pee and em,” and cat becomes “koshka.” This language was only the beginning of the strange dystopian world that is Clockwork.

Now there are two versions of the book: an American one with the final chapter removed (which the film is based on), and the original British one, which is far superior (in my very humble opinion). The British version is broken into three parts, consisting of seven chapters. Each section begins with the protagonist Alex uttering the phrase, “What’s it going to be then, eh?” Each time he says it, we see him in a different stage: as a violent criminal, as a prisoner, and as a “reformed” being. The story begins with Alex and his “droogs” (the Nadsat word for “friends”), Dim, Georgie, and Pete, terrorizing their town using “ultra-violence.” That includes the gang attacking the homeless, assaulting old ladies for reading, robbing a corner store … you know, your typical psychotic teenage gang stuff. The plot turns when Dim interrupts the classical music Alex enjoys listening to, and Alex retaliates by hitting him. That is when the gang turns on its leader.

They set Alex up, and the police catch him after Alex kills an old woman in her home. Alex goes to prison and has a particularly difficult time as a young man who is easily the victim of other inmates’ aggressions, including sexual abuse and harassment. That is why when he hears about the “Ludivico Technique,” a treatment for violence, Alex goes for it—because it means he will be released from prison early. But the Ludivico technique is pretty sick. It involves Alex being strapped down in front of a giant movie screen with his eyes forced open by a specula as he views terrible violent acts, after taking a medication that makes him feel nauseated. If you’re familiar with the movie, this is one of the most iconic scenes. The book gets really gory with it. But don’t let the gore get in the way of understanding what’s really going on here.

The Ludivico Technique is a sort of conditioning (really brainwashing) that leads Alex to become physically sick whenever he sees violence. It forces Alex to become a “good person.” Not because he wants to, but because if he does not, he feels ill. So basically, he loses his free will.

This is the first time readers and viewers are exposed to the question of whether it is better to be an individual who can (and probably will) choose to be “bad” … or a “drone” forced to be a good person. Alex also cannot listen to his beloved classical music anymore, as a side effect of hearing classical music is now feeling violently ill. And he loved his Beethoven, so that’s a real tragedy for him. It would be like if someone yanked Taylor Swift or Jack White from us.

After proving that he’s cured from wanting to act violently, Alex is released as a subject incapable of violence. But past victims and even his old droogs take revenge by attacking him, basically leaving him for dead. He seeks refuge in a secluded house, not realizing that this was the home of a previous victim. So the man locks Alex in a room with classical music blaring, until Alex attempts suicide because of the side effects of the Ludivico technique. But Alex lives and is hospitalized.

While in recovery, Alex is visited by a state representative, who realizes that maybe brainwashing someone to be good is a bad idea. The Ludivico technique is undone, and Alex returns to his old, violent ways. That’s where the American version ends, to which I say, “Boo! Alex is not supposed to be a jerk his whole life!”

In the British version that you should all read, Alex sees his old droog, Pete, living normally. That’s when he decides that he would like to live a moral family life. Now that’s the perfect ending: The protagonist is not the villain, but actually a kind of decent guy who gets involved in some seriously messed-up activities because of the faltering society he lives in.

A lot of people are turned off from A Clockwork Orange because of the violence. I can understand that. But it’s actually an anti-violence work. Once you realize that the main purpose of the book is to establish the importance of free choice and morality, you can really appreciate it.

Clockwork is a classic, but it’s often overshadowed by the film. Trust me, though: The characters, comedy, message, dialogue, setting, and everything else will leave you awe-inspired. So definitely check out the British version of the book.

Expression Of JoyThe Brady Bunch: Groovy! The Bradys: Ritual hugging Married…With Children: ”Oh, great.” Thirtysomething: ”Of course I’m happy for you. Really. But what about me? Why does it always have to be about you? The Flintstones: ”Yabba-dabba doo

Expression Of Rage

The Brady Bunch: ”Hmmm…” The Bradys: ”If you back away from something you really want, then you’re a quitter!” (the angriest any Brady has ever been) Married…With Children: ”Aaagh, God, take me from this miserable life!” Thirtysomething: ”I’m not angry, OK?” The Flintstones: ”Willllmaaaa!”

Typical ProblemThe Brady Bunch: Marcia and her rival both want to be the prom queen. The Bradys: Bobby gets paralyzed. Married…With Children: Al doesn’t buy his family Christmas presents. Thirtysomething: Nancy gets cancer. The Flintstones: Fred and Barney are staying out too late.

Typical SolutionThe Brady Bunch: The prom committee decides to have two queens. The Bradys: Bobby gets married. Married…With Children: They hate him. Thirtysomething: If only we knew… The Flintstones: Wilma and Betty decide to follow them.

Attitude Toward SexThe Brady Bunch: Never heard of it The Bradys: Omigod — even Cindy does it! Married…With Children: Peg: Yes. Al: No. Thirtysomething: They didn’t get all those kids by accident. The Flintstones: Prehistoric

How Spouses FightThe Brady Bunch: They don’t. The Bradys: Infrequently, but it happens Married…With Children: Tooth and nail Thirtysomething: They stop talking The Flintstones: Fred and Barney go bowling while Wilma and Betty max out their charge cards.

How Kids Get Into TroubleThe Brady Bunch: Greg takes a puff of a cigarette. The Bradys: Carol’s grandson steals her business cards and sticks them in the spokes of Bobby’s wheelchair. Married…With Children: By committing felonies Thirtysomething: Ethan plays with a forbidden toy rocket. The Flintstones: They don’t.

How They’re Punished

The Brady Bunch: ”It’s not what you did, honey — it’s that you couldn’t come to us.” The Bradys ”Next time, ask.” Married…With Children: By the authorities Thirtysomething: It blows up in his face. The Flintstones: They’re not.

What Family Does For FunThe Brady Bunch: Takes special three-part vacations to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon The Bradys: Has flashbacks Married…With Children: Exchanges insults Thirtysomething: Talks The Flintstones: Attends showings of The Monster at the Bedrock Drive-In

Unsolved MysteriesThe Brady Bunch: How exactly did Carol’s first husband and Mike’s first wife die? The Bradys: What’s with Marcia’s new face and Bobby’s blonde hair Married…With Children: What kind of hair spray does Peg use? Thirtysomething: Why did Nancy take Elliot back? What do Gary and Susanna see in each other? The Flintstones: How does Barney’s shirt stay on if he has no shoulders? Where do Fred and Wilma plug in their TV?

Worst BehaviorThe Brady Bunch: The Brady children once made Alice feel under-appreciated.

Best Reason To WatchThe Brady Bunch: This is what life should be. The Bradys: They’re all grown-ups now! Married…With Children: Terry Rakolta hates it. Thirtysomething (Tie) This is your life. This isn’t your life. The Flintstones: This is what life might have been.

Best Reason Not To WatchThe Brady Bunch: Blurred vision from rerun overdoses. The Bradys: You’re all grown-ups now. Married…With Children: She has a point. Thirtysomething: After a while, you think it’s real. The Flintstones: The Simpsons

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